Dormition (Keemeesis)
of the Theotokos

Celebrated August 15

The dominions and the thrones, the rulers, the
principalities and the powers, the cherubim and the fearful
seraphim glorify thy Dominion (Vespers Sticheron, Tone
1).

The sacred Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos marks
her repose, which was followed by the translation of her
sacred body three days later into heaven. This feast,
therefore, marks her soul being commended into her Son's
hands and the short sojourn of her body in the tomb. Unlike
the Resurrection of Christ, the mysterious character of her
death, burial, resurrection and ascension were not the
subject of apostolic teachings, yet they were recorded by
the tradition of the Holy Orthodox Church and writings of
the Church Fathers.

The Dormition of the Theotokos took place while Apostle
Thomas was preaching the gospel in India. The other Apostles
had been caught up from various lands on the clouds of
heaven, and were transported to Gethsemane, to the bier of
the all-blessed Virgin. This was permitted by the will of
God, so the faithful might be assured that the Mother of God
was bodily assumed into heaven. For just as they were more
greatly assured of the Resurrection of Christ, through the
disbelief of Thomas, so did they learned of the bodily
assumption into heaven of the all-pure Virgin Mary through
the delay of Thomas.

On the third day after the burial St. Thomas was suddenly
caught up in a cloud in India and transported to a place in
the air above the tomb of the Virgin. From that vantage
point, he beheld the translation of her body into the
heavens, and cried out to her, "Whither goest thou, O
all-holy one?" She removed her girdle and gave it to him
saying, "Receive this, my friend." And then she was
gone.

He then descended to find the other disciples keeping
watch over the sepulchre of the Theotokos. He sat down
beside them, with the girdle in his hand, greatly saddened
that he had not been there when she reposed, as had been the
other Apostles. Hence, he said, "We are all disciples of the
Master; we all preach the same thing; we are all servants of
the one Lord, Jesus Christ. How, then, is it that ye were
counted worthy to behold the repose of His Mother, and I was
not? Am I not an Apostle? Can it be that God is not pleased
with my preaching? I beseech you, my fellow disciples: open
the tomb, that I also may look upon her remains, and embrace
them, and bid her farewell!"

The Apostles took pity on St. Thomas and opened the tomb.
All were aghast when they found it empty, not realizing that
moments before she had been bodily transported to paradise
to be the mediatress of Christians. All that remained were
her burial clothes, which emitted a wonderful unearthly
fragrance.

The Feast's kontakion speaks of her as an unfailing hope
and mediation, reminding us of her intercessory role in
paradise. Neither the tomb nor death had power over the
Theotokos, who is ever watchful in her prayers and in whose
intercessions lies unfailing hope. For as the Mother of Life
she has been translated unto life by Him Who dwelt in her
ever-virgin womb.

after The Life of the Virgin Mary, The
Theotokospublished by Holy Apostles Convent and Dormition Skete,
Colorado USA, 1989, ISBN 0-944359-03-5